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Senator Brady sets agenda for legislative session

2/20/2012

One of Senator Brady's bill (SB 2489) would stop Governor Pat Quinn from using charitable donations to pay the state’s bills.

Senate Bill 2489 would protect taxpayer contributions to income tax check-off funds from being “swept” by the Governor. The Administration borrowed $1.176 million from 11 tax check-off funds during Fiscal Year 2011.

“Years of ‘tax-borrow-and-spend’ fiscal mismanagement have brought Illinois to the sad state of affairs that, despite a 67 percent income tax increase forced through by Democrat leaders in January 2011, the Governor had to use funds donated by taxpayers to charitable organizations to pay the state’s bills. The Administration says the money has been repaid, but it should never have been borrowed in the first place,” Senator Brady said. “This is not the state’s money.”

Senate Bill 2489 has been assigned to the Senate Revenue Committee.

Another bill (SB 3608) would dissolve the Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which regulates medical services and construction of medical facilities throughout Illinois.

“The Board has been at the center of controversy for many years, tainted by the corrupt influence peddling of some of its former members during the Blagojevich Administration who were ultimately convicted of seeking to enrich themselves at the public expense,” said Senator Brady. “Over the years, I have introduced a number of bills designed to make the kinds of changes that would help restore the public’s confidence in the Board’s actions and activities.

“My efforts have been stonewalled on a number of fronts, however, which leads me to believe that the best course would be to disband the Board completely,” he added. “Perhaps it is time to give private investors more opportunity to develop healthcare facilities without undue governmental interference and provide the citizens of Illinois with better access to quality healthcare facilities in their communities.”

Senate Bill 3608 awaits assignment to a legislative committee.

Another measure (SB 2825) would provide for the issuance of Illinois Nurses license plates. A portion of the monies earned by the sale of the license plates would be used as grants to the Illinois Nurses Foundation to advance the nursing profession.

Senate Bill 2825 has been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee.

“While at least in my case, these scholarships have always gone to worthy and qualified students, another recent downgrade in the state’s bond rating and a lack of support for reforming or abolishing the program from Democrats in the General Assembly have prompted me to terminate awarding scholarships to students in my district,” Senator Brady said. “In these difficult economic times for Illinois and our colleges and universities, we must look at every opportunity to maximize the use of our resources.”